Caring beauty Meghan Markle is already a fashion icon and is perfect for Prince Harry — and she can drag royals into the 21st century
IF you haven’t already, Harry — hurry up and put a ring on it.
Because no woman alive will make a more perfect modern princess than smart, sassy and seriously gorgeous Meghan Markle.
The rumour is that the prince, 33, has finally popped the question to his American actress girlfriend, 36, and that we can expect an official announcement any day.
Both his offices at Lambeth Palace and Kensington Palace — where Harry lives in a bachelor pad — are saying nothing.
And the discretion is also completely in keeping with the sophisticated way the star of big US TV show
Suits has handled herself since news of the couple’s relationship broke just over a year ago.
There was no way Meghan would overshadow the celebrations of the Queen and Prince Philip’s 70th wedding anniversary this month.
In fact, despite coming under global scrutiny after it was revealed she was dating the fifth in line to the throne, Meghan has simply said: “We’re two people who are really happy and in love.” That comment was from an extensive interview with Vanity Fair this September, and was accompanied by a shoot of Meghan wearing a fairytale ballroom gown, looking typically stylish and extravagantly beautiful.
She added: “We were very quietly dating for about six months before it became news.
“I was working during that whole time, and the only thing that changed was people’s perception. I’m still the same person that I am, and I’ve never defined myself by my relationship.”
'She's just wild about Harry' Meghan Markle's Vanity Fair cover October 2017It is inevitable that comparisons have been drawn between the actress and the Duchess of Cambridge.
Yet while Kate has updated the Royal Family — especially with the launch of mental health charity Heads Together, along with William and Harry — she must follow the confines that come with one day being Queen.
Meghan might well be the woman to drag The Firm into the 21st century.
Her savviness in social media aside — she ran a popular lifestyle blog, The Tig, and has almost 2million followers on her Instagram account alone — she, like Harry, has a vulnerability that makes her more relatable for younger people.
She was born in California into a hard-working, middle-class family made up of African-American mum Doria, a social worker, and Dutch/Irish-American dad Thomas, a TV set lighter.
Her parents’ mixed-race marriage meant they experienced abuse when Meghan was a child. The couple split when she was six.
She also suffered a failed, early marriage, after divorcing American film producer Trevor Engelson, 41, in 2013, following a two-year union and after almost nine years together.
And while we would argue her looks might be the least interesting thing about her, it would be churlish not to mention them: Both girl next door and old-school Hollywood glamour, she is pure crush material — without even mentioning her constant smile.
Much has been made of Meghan’s job, as though being an actor is somehow beneath that of a future princess. That is simply silly. Indeed, having a talent and working hard enough to become a breakout star of hit legal drama Suits — in which she has brilliantly played feisty Rachel Zane since 2011 — is no mean feat.
She has also starred in big Hollywood films, including Horrible Bosses and Get Him to the Greek.
But Meghan’s showbiz CV belies a more serious nature.
She earned a degree in communications from the respected US Northwestern University in 2003 and worked as a calligrapher before carving out her successful acting career.
But her real passion has always been philanthropy.
Like Harry, and his late mother Princess Diana, Meghan is a humanitarian who has long campaigned for
Canada’s World Vision clean water organisation in Rwanda, Africa — and is a UN women’s rights advocate.
Meghan is more than equipped to deal with — if not take on — the often archaic machine of the Royal Family.
Describing herself in a magazine 11 months ago, she wrote: “While my mixed heritage may have created a grey area surrounding my self-identification, I have come to embrace that, to say who I am, to share where I’m from, to voice my pride in being a strong, confident mixed-race woman.”
The support and encouragement she gives Harry is all too apparent as well. It is surely no coincidence that in April the Prince spoke so frankly, and bravely, for the first time about the effect of losing his mother, 20 years after her death, while Meghan was in his corner.
After being introduced in July 2016, things moved swiftly for the pair, although they have worked hard to keep their romance out of the limelight.
They have frequently flown between London and Toronto — where Meghan films Suits — to spend time with each other and celebrated Christmas and Easter together, with the prince even forgoing traditional ceremonies with the royals.
Meghan was also Harry’s plus one to Pippa Middleton’s wedding in May.
Meghan charmed public with ease
Two months ago, all eyes were on her as she finally made her first official appearance with Harry at the
Invictus Games, the sporting event he created for disabled soldiers and veterans. During an affectionate appearance, where Meghan charmed the public with ease, the prince could not stop smiling.
Only two years ago, Harry said he feared ever finding a woman willing to take on being his wife. Now, have we ever seen him look so happy?
Meghan is smart, gorgeous, grounded and makes you smile.
Harry, we can recommend a jeweller.
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Stylish Meghan's wardrobe highlights
MEGHAN’s cool, casual look is a breath of fresh air after the Duchess of Cambridge’s shift dresses and nude court shoes.
Here fashion editor GABRIELE DIRVANAUSKAS looks at her risky style – well, as risky as you can be so close to royalty.
Flared jeans
MEGHAN wore kickflare jeans to browse the stores in London this week – and is sure to bring then flattering style back into fashion.
They balance out the hips by widening towards the ankle – this is one royal trend we can all wear.
All-over colour
THE actress pulled off this maroon marvel – matching her dress to her jacket and handbag – at the Invictus Games in Toronto in September.
The pleated dress, by US brand Aritzia and costing £140, sold out after Meghan was snapped in it.
Ripped jeans
MANY people in ripped, scruffy jeans look like they have had a fight with the pavement and lost.
But not Meghan. She looks chic and polished in hers, and teamed the distressed denim perfectly with an artfully untucked shirt.
Red dress
MEGHAN crept into Kate’s good books last year when she wore a regal red dress very similar to the Duchess of Cambridge’s Preen frock.
But by showing off a little cleavage she oozed sexiness – something Kate should take note of.
Navy dress
HOW do you dress for a polo match? That would be a puzzler for many, but not Meghan.
In May, watching Harry and his pals, she looked pitch-perfect in a navy dress by Antonio Berardi with a white jacket chukka-ed over her shoulders.
Shorts suit
LOOKING cool and tailored in the wilting heat of Los Angeles is no mean feat. In May 2016, Meghan
made easy work of city dressing in a stylish shorts suit.
She also sexily flashed a glimpse of her lace bra underneath a white shirt.
Leather trousers
MEGHAN channelled Sandy from Grease in a sumptuous second-skin pair of leather trousers in March last year.
Worn with a peplum-style jacket with nothing underneath, and signature red lipstick, this look for a New York do had everyone’s chills multiplying.